Is Mobility Equal for People with Disabilities?
We move every day without much thought. Even as I write this, I experience little inconvenience when using buses, taxis, or the subway to go out. Korea — especially Seoul — is a city with a high reliance on public transportation, and people from other regions or countries naturally use it when they visit. However, this familiar routine can be something that others must carefully plan. Several years ago, I had a conversation with a coworker who used an electric wheelchair. He told me, “It’s hard to take the subway,” and “It’s not easy to book a disability taxi,” adding that he wanted to get a driver’s license as soon as possible. There are several reasons why using the subway is difficult. During rush hour, trains are crowded, and boarding with a wheelchair takes time and space, so he has to travel early in the morning before it gets busy. There is also a safety risk due to the gap between the train and the platform. Disability taxis are...